444 



The Hurricane of May 1862. 



distance, it was much broader. The course was from S.S.E. to 

 N.N.W., being almost a straight line. 



Mr. A. Stevenson, of Tynemouth, who was visiting Mr. 

 Thorpe at the time, was an eye-witness of the storm, and from 

 him I derived the following valuable information. He says 

 that "at 3*30 p.m. there were mutterings of thunder. From 

 4 p.m. till 4'30 heat oppressive; about 4*45 and till 5 exceed- 

 ingly large and curious hail fell ; they were of four shapes. 



1st. Hemispherical, clear like ice, except the central point, 



l A. 



IB. 



A 



M 



Section. 



Base. 



which was opaque, and from which semi-opaque lines radiated 

 along the base. The diagrams represent the average size ; some 

 were a little larger. Of these only a few fell near Beaconfield. 

 2nd, Flattened spheres, more numerous than the first, 



2 A. 



B. 



3-] 



Section 



Base. 



Section. 



semi-opaque, with hard white centre, thinner at the axis than 

 at the circumference. 



3rd. Opaque and pear-shaped. These were numerous. 



4th. Ordinary circular hail-stones, opaque and softish. I 



On the falling of these hail-stones the air became chilly. 



At about three minutes past five o'clock, on looking out of 

 a window facing the E., Mr. Stevenson's attention was attracted 

 by seeing a small pony, closely followed by the sheep and 

 cattle, rushing in terror and at great speed from the S.S.E. 

 Opposite the house the pony stopped and looked back, and 

 then started off at still greater speed, as if pursued. On 





